How does exercise help diabetes?
Updated: Dec 6, 2022

Have you tried everything and still can't seem to get your diabetes under control? You can try exercising if your doctor recommends it! It's also critical to stick to a healthy eating plan and, if required, control your blood glucose levels using medicines or insulin. exercising makes your body more insulin-responsive, which aids with diabetes management. It makes a huge difference whether you feel capable of going for a run or a swim, or whether you can do some arm stretches or just walk in your neighbourhood.
What Effect Does Exercise Have on Blood Sugar?
Your body needs more energy from blood sugar, often known as glucose, while you exercise. Depending on the sort of activity you engage in, being physically active can have a variety of effects on your blood sugar levels. Exercise increases the amount of glucose used by your muscles, lowering your BGLs. It's critical for diabetics to monitor their blood glucose levels before, during, and after exercise.
By making your body more responsive to insulin, physical exercise can drop your blood sugar for up to 24 hours or longer after your workout. Exercise drives the transfer of glucose from the circulation into the working muscles and organs, which has the immediate advantage of decreasing overly high blood sugar levels. This is one of the reasons why doctors believe that taking a stroll after a meal might help patients with high blood sugar.
Exercise can also assist diabetics of various ethnic groups as it is seen to decrease HbA1c levels by up to 0.7 percentage points. Learn how your blood sugar reacts to physical activity. You can observe the advantages of exercise by checking your blood sugar level more frequently before and after you exercise.
Because your blood sugar level is likely to be higher after eating, it is best to exercise one to three hours after taking your meal. If you use insulin, it's vital to check your blood sugar before exercising. If your blood sugar lowers, keep a small carbohydrate snack available, such as fruits.
Hypoglycemia and exercise:
If the insulin dose or carbohydrate intake is not modified with activity, those who use insulin or insulin secretagogues are at risk of hypoglycemia. Your muscles consume more glucose when you exercise. Your BGLs will be decreased as a result of this. There's a chance your BGLs will drop too low. If your blood sugar level is below 100 mg/dL before exercising, a piece of fruit or a little snack will help you raise it and prevent hypoglycemia.
Check your BGLs before, during, and after exercise to observe how your BGLs are affected by the exercise you're doing. The type of activity, the length of time, your overall fitness, and the severity of the workout can all have an impact. Find out whether you're at risk for hypoglycemia by speaking with your diabetes doctor. Treat hypoglycemia as soon as possible if it occurs during or after exercise.
Which exercises are best for Diabetic patients:
When you do exercise, your muscles absorb a lot more glucose. So, When you engage in moderate activity for an extended period of time, such as hiking, you will reap significant benefits. When you stop exercising strenuously, though, your blood sugar levels may temporarily rise. Whether you're new to physical exercise or simply searching for something new to try, here are some exercises that you can try out to keep your sugar levels in control:
● Walk
walking is an easy method to get some exercise while also getting some fresh air. You may begin right now if you have a sturdy pair of shoes and a secure area to walk. One strategy to meet your goal is to go for a brisk walk for 30 minutes to an hour four times a week.
● Swim
This is one aerobic workout that does not put undue strain on your joints, as some others do. It also allows you to exercise both your upper and lower body. Swimming is also beneficial to your heart.
● Climb Stairs
Particularly if you have type 2 diabetes, this can be a smart and simple method to burn more calories and get your cardiovascular system functioning quicker. An hour or two after a meal, going up and down the stairs for 3 minutes is a smart strategy to burn off blood sugar.
● Yoga
Yoga can also help you enhance your body balance. The motions, positions, and concentration on breathing may also reduce tension and aid muscular growth. this might assist you in maintaining a healthy blood sugar level.
You may try these and a variety of other workouts, such as gardening, dancing, weightlifting, and so on, to see what works best for your body. Good luck getting started, and remember to reap the advantages of physical activity!